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Minichiello calls time on brilliant career

Steve Zemek

Sydney Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello has overcome adversities which would have broken most men, achieved more than most players could ever dream of but in the end he knew it was time.

The legendary fullback on Monday announced he would draw the curtain on his illustrious 15-year NRL career at the end of the 2014 season.

Retirement speculation dogged Minichiello, 34, for the latter part of his career after back, neck and ankle injuries kept him sidelined for big patches between 2006 and 2009.

Minichiello has played 294 games for the Roosters and is on track to join the 300-game club - of which there are just 20 members - in the first week of the finals.

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If he stays fit and the team makes this year's grand final he will become the club's most-capped player, surpassing Luke Ricketson (301 games).

It is not lost on him that had he stayed healthy he may have gone past Darren Lockyer's NRL games record of 355.

"It's weird because last year when you guys were asking 'When's the time?' I couldn't see it and people when they retire they say when you know you know," Minichiello said of his decision to hang up the boots.

"But I always thought would that feeling come across me.

"This year there is that slight feeling down deep inside.

"I've achieved a lot in the game and there's still a little bit to go hopefully so I'm really happy with my decision.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson described Minichiello as inspiring to the rest of the club's playing group but said it would be dangerous if they used his impending retirement as motivation for the rest of the year.

Robinson first crossed paths with Minichiello as a player at the Roosters before selecting him to captain the club when he took over as coach last year.

"I'd been here a long time, right back to when Mini started in 1995," he said.

"I'd been in and out of the place a couple of times, Mini had been here and lived that whole period.

"It was important to go in and understand the club and not just the team... we had a huge history, a proud history.

"And Mini was a huge part of passing on what the club meant to him... and we bought back into our club and our region and the eastern suburbs."

Part of the reason for his contentment is his seven-month-old daughter Azura, while he added he was looking forward to spending more time with wife Terry.

Upon retirement he will take up a corporate role with the Roosters and continue to work with his company Minifit.

Minichiello was brought up in Liverpool in western Sydney and scouted as a teenager by the legendary Arthur Beetson in 1996.

After being invited to trial with the club, Minichiello made his first-grade debut against Canterbury in 2000.

He went on to win two premierships (2002, 2013) including one as captain last year, two World Club Challenges (2003, 2014), made 11 State of Origin appearances for New South Wales, represented Australia 18 times, won the Dally M fullback of the year and the Golden Boot Award for world's best player.